14 troops, 12 militants die in Yemen fight

Suicide bombers attacked a military base in south Yemen Friday, killing at least 14 soldiers and 12 al-Qaida operatives, military officials said. Military officials said two of the five suicide bombers who breached the military facility in the southern province of Abyan blew themselves up and the three others were killed during fighting with government forces, The New York Times reported. Another group of al-Qaida insurgents aided the suicide bombers by firing on the base that houses the 115th Brigade, the military sources said. The operations commander of the brigade, a colonel and two other officers were among the 14 military personnel killed, the Times said. Residents said the bodies of seven other al-Qaida attackers were found around the base. Military officials said other al-Qaida followers fled when confronted by forces in the 115th Brigade.